Nice, on the French Riviera; one expects refinement and a taste of the exotic in equal amounts. There was no better place to open Villa Bouganville, a boutique hotel that takes visitors on a journey, even as they simply move from room to room. The owners asked the designers of Atelier Coste et Butin to create a modern jewel, inspired by a clever theme: the journeys of the explorer, Louis Antoine de Bouganville. The celebrated intellect and navigator from the 17th century circled the globe. The inspiration is the natural world, including bright colours, tropical plants, and unusual animals. All of the spaces, including common areas and 46 rooms, come alive with strong colours, collections of design objects, and patterns that are varied and never boring. Floral decorations, botanical illustrations that conjure up memories of old apothecaries, and designs of brightly-coloured birds, butterflies and animals create an infinite amount of surprising and enjoyable stimuli in every angle.